Electrically heated boot



Oct. 13, M JOY r ELECTRICALLY HEATED BOOT Filed Dec. 31, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fkmrsrfSwwnsm fla--Qn 7 7 4. J

Oct. 13, 1942. M. F. JOY ETAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED BOOT Filed Dec. 31; 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fie/we: T 5 1/5/2420 304 Oct. 13, 1942.

M. F. JOY arm.

ELECTRICALLY HEATED BOOT Filed Dec. 31, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 fk/ve'sr 5 SHEPAQOJO/Y anew-gs Patented Oct. 13, 1942 ELECTRICALLY HEATED BOOT Milton F. Joy, Green Island, N. Y., and Ernest E. Shepardson, East Providence, R. 1., assignors to Colvinex Corporation, Cohoes, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1941, Serial No. 425,222

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved electrically heated boot particularly adapted for thera peutic purposes.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved electrically heated boot that will supply heat over the desired areas of the foot and leg for medical treatment, that can be easily slipped on the foot and secured about the leg of the patient, and removed therefrom, and which will be efficient and safe in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boot having the characteristics mentioned, that will be durable in use and so constructed as to be easily kept in a sanitary condition.

The invention contemplates a boot comprising three separable'sections, a double walled waterproof section between the opposing walls of which sections each having a leg portion and a foot covering portion and telescoping with each other The sections are each provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot covering part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other and providing a lateral opening at the back of the boot for the passage of the foot and leg in applying and removing the boot. By this construction that provides for inserting the foot into and withdrawing the same from the back of the boot, the necessity for substantial bending or flexing of the foot in applying and removing the boot, is avoided, the construction being especialy advantageous in the treatment of persons suffering from ailments causing stiffness of the joints. Means is provided for detachably connecting the intermediate section at marginal portions thereof to the inner lining section, and for connecting the latter at marginal portions thereof along its vertical slit or opening to marglnal portions of the outer covering section along its v rtical slit or opening, in combination with means for detachably connecting opposite marginal edge portions of the outer covering section along its vertical slit or opening. By this particular interconnection of the parts, the intermediate double walled section with the electric heating unit therein is held between the inner and outer sections, and it is maintained in proper position snugly about the leg by the outer covermg section when the opposite marginal edge portions of said outer covering section along its vertical slit or opening are connected to secure the boot on the leg, the particular arrangement providing for easily turning back the opposite marginal portions of the several sections along their vertical slits or openings to permit insertion of the foot and leg, and for securing the same about the leg.

The invention, with other. objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrically heated boot constructed in accordance with the present invention, the marginal portions of the outer covering section along its vertical slit or opening being unfastened and with upper portions thereof turned back to show the intermediate and inner lining section.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the outer covering section with marginal portions thereof along its vertical slit or opening fastened together.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the intermediate section.

Fig. 4 is a similar View of the inner lining section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 6.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of the flexible supporting section for the heating unit.

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the conducting wires of the heating unit on the blank for the flexible supporting section thereof.

Fig. 9 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of an upper portion of the supporting member or section for the heating unit, showing more in detail the heating unit structure and the terminal connections of the same.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the flexible supporting member or section for the heating unit with one of the thermostats attached thereto.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the structure shown in Figure 10.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the structure shown in Figure 10.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention may be embodied in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to a detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the construction shown comprises a main section l5 constructed with double walls I5 I5 to provide therebetween a waterproof protective casing for the electric heating unit, an outer covering section l6, and an inner lining section H, the sections telescoping with each other. In this particular exemplifioation of the invention, the leg portions of the sections are of a length to extend well above the knee. Each of the sections is provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part. The vertical slits or openings of the several sections which are designated respectively I5 16 and H, register with each other so that when the marginal portions of the several sections adjoining their slits or openings are folded back, an opening is provided for inserting the foot and leg into the boot. As illustrated in Figure 5 and 6 of the drawings, the leg portion of the double walled intermediate section I 5 is formed of two separate sheets of Waterproof fabric arranged back to back and connected at their upper and side marginal portions by stitching it and. t9, the lower marginal edge portion of. said sheets being suitably secured to the opposing walls of the foot portion of said section. The, intermediate section is preferably made of a material known in the trade as Neoprene cloth. This material is resistant to all kinds of fluids commonly used for medicinal purposes, it is highly resistant to the relatively high temperatures normally employed in different kinds of heating devices, and it will not vulcanize or harden as sheet rubber covers will.

The heating unit as shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, comprises a pair of conductor members 28 and 2!, each of the members being bent back and forth to form a series of transverse loops and the members being reversely ar- I ranged in overlapping relation with the end bend portions of the loops of one conductor member disposed between end bend portions of the loops of the other conductor member to provide a striplike structure designated A. The conductor strip A is attached to a flexible supporting section or member 22 that has a leg portion and a foot covering portion similar in size to the intermediate section i5 and which is disposed between the opposing walls W of the intermediate section in telescoping relation therewith, the leg portion of the supporting member or section 22 being secured at its upper and side marginal por- .tions to marginal portions of the opposing walls of the leg portion of the intermediate section by the stitching l8 and IS. The blank, designated B, from which the supporting section 22 is formed is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings with the heating unit attached thereto. As shown in this view the conductor strip A is laid on the blank in a series of longitudinal folds b so that when the supporting section of boot formation has been made up from the blank B and is in place within the protective casing between the walls of the intermediate section 55, it will extend over the front and sides of the leg portion from above the knee downv to the ankle portion and along'the front of the latter as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, the heating unit being disposed at the inner side 'of the supporting section 22.

The conductor strip is anchored to the supporting section by rows of stitching 23, 2%. Opposite end portions (1, d of the conductor strip are brought back transversely along the upper portion of the supporting section 22 above the folds b and sewed down to a canvas reinforcement 25 on the supporting section 22, said end portions being first soldered and taped. The end portions (2, d, of the conductor strip are connected with lead wires 26, 21 of a short flexible cord 28 extending to the exterior of the intermediate section !5 and having a terminal connectorplug 29.

The conductor members and forming the conductor strip A each consists of a plurality of thin easily flexible insulated wires 28 Zi In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the conductor members 20 and 2! each comprise two of said insulated wires composed of No. 38 metal core yarn, but, as will be understood in practicing the invention, the size and number of the component wires will vary, depending upon the heat desired. The in sulated wires 2H and 2i are formed by threads of the construction disclosed in Patent No. 1,965,542 issued to William Colvin, 51, July 3, 1934, composed partially of wire and partially of textile fibers, but which have characteristics of softness, flexibility, and resistance to kinking,

fairly comparable to like threads composed en 7 tirely of textile fiber, the metal wire core of the composite thread constituting the conductor wire of the heating unit, and the textile fiber wrappings of the composite thread forming the insulation of the conductor wire.

Means is provided for controlling the temperature of the boot, said means being shown as comprising three thermostats 3U, 3i and 32. The thermostats are connected in series with each other and with the conductor strip A, the same being interposed in a short conductor wire leading from the terminal d of the conductor strip to the lead wire 2'3 of the flexible cord 28, said lead wire being suitably secured to the-- reinforcement 25. The thermostats are of conventional construction. The detail construction and arrangement of the thermostat is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 0f the drawings. Each thermostat comprises a bimetallic bar 5:3 rigidly secured at one end upon a thin b" of electric insulating material and ada to engage at its end with a fixed contact on the base. Each thermostat has a terminal 3'! that is in electric contact with the bimetallic bar 34, and with a terminal 38 which is in contact with the fixed contact 36, said terminbeing connected in the conductor Wire designates a cover member or shield of ge. U-shaped form in cross section secured to oppc site sides of the base 35. The structure is enclosed in a wrapper 38 of electric insulating tape or cloth and each thermostat is disposed length wise longitudinally of the transversely looped conductor strip A with its base 35 directly against a section of the looped strip. The thermostats are shown secured to the supporting section 22 by cord or thread ii passed around the same and through the supporting section.

All of the thermostats are set to operate at th same temperature, plurality of the same being provided arranged at diiierent locations along the conductor strip for increased safety in the operation of the boot. When the bimetallic bar of each thermostat is heated, it will flex out of engagement with the fixed contact, breaking the circuit. When the bar cools slightly it will again engage the fixed contact.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, and 6 of the drawings, as shown in these views, the vertical slit or opening H at the back of the inner lining section [1 is wider than the slit or opening ii of the outer covering section l6, and the slit or opening of the intermediate section 15 is of still greater width, the construction of the sections being such that when as sembled, the marginal edge portions of th inner lining section i'l along its vertical slit or open ing H will extend beyond or overlap the marginal edge portions of the intermediate section along its vertical slit or opening 15 and will terminate inwardly or short of the marginal edge portions of the outer covering section [6 along its vertical slit or opening 16*. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the leg portion of the intermediate section (5 is not as long as the leg portions of the inner lining covering section 16. On the upper marginal portion of the intermediate section 5 at the inner side at intervals thereabout is a serie of snap fastener members 42 adapted to cooperate with a series of fastener members 43 on the outer side of the inner lining section 51 to detachably connect the intermediate section l5 to the inner lining section.

44 and 45 are cooperating sets of snap fastener members on upper marginal portions of the outer covering section I6 and the inner lining section l1 adapted to detachably connect these sections above or beyond the upper end of the intermediate section [5, and on marginal portions of the outer covering section l6 and the inner lining section I! along their vertical slits or openings l6, H, are rows of cooperating snap fastener members 46 and 4! for detachably connecting opposing marginal portions or said sections, the rows of fastener members 48 on the outer covering section l6 being disposed inwardly from the marginal edges of said section at the slit l1- therein, as shown. The outer covering section I6 is provided with slide fastener means for closing its vertical slit Or opening l6 and fastening the leg portions about the leg. This is of well known conventional form comprisingseries of interlocking fastener elements 48 secured to opposite edge portions of said section along its slit or opening, and the longitudinally slidable member 49 for interlocking the series of fastener elements with each other, and disengaging the same. With the means provided for connecting the intermediate section with the inner lining section and the latter to the outer covering section, the intermediate double walled waterproof section with the electric heating unit therein is held between the outer covering section and the inner lining section, and it 'is maintained in proper position snugly about the leg by the outer covering section when the slit or opening of said outer section is closed by the slide fastener means to secur the boot on the leg, the particular arrangement providing for turning back opposite marginal portions of the several sections along their vertical slits or openings together to open the same for insertion of th foot and leg and for adjusting said marginal portions for securing the sections about the leg. The inner lining sec section ii and the outer i tion [1 which contacts directly with the foot and leg, and the outer covering section ii, are constructed of khaki or other suitable material.

In the us of the device, provision is made for operating the heating unit at a relatively low voltage from the regular service circuit of 116 volts usually iound in dwellings. For this purpose, a transformer, not shown, is provided to step down the ordinary service circuit to 16 volts, or thereabouts.

By the particular construction and arrangement or" parts hereinbefcre set forth, an electrically heated boot or simple, practical, durable construction is provided that will be efficient and safe in operation. Th boot can be easily slipped on the foot and secured about the le of the patient, the necessity for substantial flexing of the foot in applying and removing the boot being avoided. The heating unit is well protected, at the same time the marginal porticns of the several sections along their vertical slits or openings can be easily folded back together to permit the foot and leg to be inserted. th double walled waterproof section with the heating'unit therein being held between the inner and outer sections, and being maintained in proper position snugly about the leg by the outer covering section when the marginal edge portions of said section along its vertical slit are connected to secure the boot on the leg.

What we claim is:

1. An electrically heated boot comprising three separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections, each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with each other, the intermediate section being constructed with double walls to provide a closed protective casing therebetween, an electric heating unit disposed within said protective casing, said sections each being provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to provide a lateral opening for the boot, and means for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal portions of the outer section along its vertical slit or opening.

2. An electrically heated boot comprising three separable sections, an intermediat section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with each other, the intermediate section being constructed with double walls to provide a closed protective casing thenebetween, an electric heating unit disposed within said protective casing, said sections each being provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to provide a lateral opening for the boot, and means for detachably connecting the inner lining section at marginal portions thereof to the outer section, and for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal portions of the outer section along its vertical slit or opening.

3. An electrically heated bo'ot comprising three separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with each other, the intermediate section being constructed provide a lateral opening for the boot, detachably connecting the inner lining section of the'same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the'vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to means for at marginal portions thereof along its slit or opening to the outer section, and means for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal portions of the outer section along its vertical slit or opening.

4. An electrically heated boot comprising three.

separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with each other, the intermediate section being constructed with double Walls to provide a closed protective casing therebetwe-en, an electric heating unit disposed within said protective casing, said sections each being provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to provide a lateral opening for the boot, and means for detachably upper marginal portions thereof and at marginal portions thereof along its vertical slit to the outer connecting the inner lining section at section, and for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal portions of the outer section along its vertical slit or opening.

5. An electrically heated boot comprising three separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with each other, the intermediate section being constructed with double walls to provide a closed protective casing therebetween, an electric heating unit disposed within said protective casing, said sections each being provided with a vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to provide a lateral opening for the boot, meansfor detachably connecting the intermediate section at marginal edge portions the other sections, means for connecting the inner lining section at marginal edge portions thereof to the outer section, and means for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal edge portions of the outer section along its slit or opening,

6. An electrically heated 'boot comprising three separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with the intermediate section along its slit or opening, means located at intervals on marginal portions of the inner and outer sections along the slits thereof beyond the intermediate section for detachably securing the inner section to the outer section, and means on opposite side marginal edge portions of the outer section along its slit beyond said last mentioned means for detachably fastening said marginal portions together.

7. In an electrically .heated boot comprising three separable sections, an intermediate section, an inner lining section, and an outer covering section, the sections each having a leg part and a foot covering part, and telescoping with ,each other, the intermediate section being constructed with double Walls of Waterproof material to provide a closed protective casing there- 1 comprising conductor Wires arranged to extend along the leg part and foot part of the boot, said separable sections each being provided with a Vertical slit or opening at the back thereof extending from the top of the same down to approximately the top of its foot part, the vertical slits or openings of the several sections registering with each other to provide a lateral opening for the boot, and means for detachably fastening together opposite side marginal portions of the outer section along its vertical slit or openmg.

MILTON F. JOY.

ERNEST E. SHEPARDSON. 

